Public engagement key to parks, rec plan: McLeod

Community engagement is key to Welland developing a 10-year parks, recreation and culture master plan, says David McLeod.

“I’m very excited to see this come forward, this is the future our parks. We haven’t seen a plan in some time,” he said at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

The Ward 2 councillor said the public should be the largest part of a $50,000 process during which Monteith Brown Planning Consultants will develop the plan.

“People are very busy in their lives,” McLeod said. “Are we sure we can get the kind of public engagement we want so we can shape this to their benefit?”

City engineer Erik Nickel said Monteith Brown has worked on a number of master plans and brings great experience and best practices to the project. He said the firm can be asked to engage the public as much as possible.

Said McLeod, “We’re asking people what they want to see and live with in terms of recreational facilities in the community. It could be something like a micropark in a new development instead of payment in lieu. It’s got to be thinking that is forwardthinking, that allows us to live differently …”

Nickel said community and stakeholder groups, and council, will be a part of the process.

Ward 4 Coun. Tony DiMarco asked if there was anyone inhouse who could have been charged with developing the master plan, instead of spending $50,000 on a consultant.

Said Nickel, “We have no one with the expertise these consultants have.”

He said the work is being undertaken at no cost to Welland taxpayers as development charges are covering the bill.